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Tax Preparation
Services

Free Tax Preparation

The Mulberry Community Service Center's Personal Finance Center coordinates the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provided in partnership with United Way of Central Florida.  Our team of IRS-certified volunteers prepares tax returns at no cost for clients with household incomes of $75,000 or less.  We e-file most returns, so if you are due a refund and choose direct deposit, you should receive your refund within a couple of weeks.

More than that, we are passionate about the financial stability of our clients.  Building a savings account to help with emergencies is key to becoming financially stable.  Our tax experts can help you split your refund to put cash into savings.

During the 2023 tax season, our 14 tax sites prepared 1,285 returns with 1,016 resulting in refunds.  Over 13 percent of our taxpayers deposited their refunds to savings accounts for total savings of $472,179.

Late Filers

The Mulberry Community Service Center files taxes year-round to help late filers. In addition to current year tax returns, we can prepare tax returns for the previous three years as well.  Please call (863) 425-1523 for an appointment.

 

To prepare for your tax appointment, please check below for a list of documents to bring, and don't forget your savings account information.

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What to Bring to Your Tax Appointment:

The free tax return preparation service is provided through the United Way of Central Florida's financial stability initiative, which prioritizes the importance of emergency savings accounts.  For this reason, you are requested to bring SAVINGS account information rather than checking account information for direct deposit of refunds.  This enables us to continue providing the free tax return preparation service. 

  • Savings Account information including routing number and account number for direct deposit of refund

  • Identification (driver’s license, photo ID, passport)

  • If Married Filing Jointly:  Both spouses must be present with photo IDs and Social Security cards or ITIN (individual taxpayer identification number) for everyone listed on the return.

  • Birthdates for you, your spouse, and dependents on the return

  • Wage and earning statements (W-2, W-2G, 1099R, 1099 Misc, Social Security summary)

  • Interest and Dividend Statements (1099-Int, 1099-Div)

  • Forms 1095-A, B, or C Health Coverage Statements or Health Insurance Exemption Certificate

  • Total paid for daycare and the provider’s tax identifying number

  • Any other tax form such as an IRS PIN number

  • Last year’s tax return, if possible

  • IRS Letter 6475 (amount received for third stimulus payment)

  • IRS Letter 6419 (amount of advanced child tax credit received)

The PFC staff and volunteers celebrate Alice Childs (left), honored as the "2019 Volunteer of the Year."  Alice is a five-year volunteer, and our clientele love working with her year after year.  Thank you, Alice!

2024 Volunteer Opportunities

Are you interested in being a volunteer?  Please call Katie at (863) 425-1523, ext 103.  We need greeters and preparers for the 2023 tax season, and would love to have YOU!  We provide training free of charge, so you will be confident and competent in your ability to prepare simple tax returns.  We schedule training in December, and tax season is the last week of January through the first week of April.  We try to place you at the site of your choice, and most volunteers commit one day (about five hours) a week. 

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Our volunteers went above and beyond the call of duty providing free tax return preparation during the COVID pandemic.  On May 27, 2021, we celebrated their hard work at an Appreciation and Awards Luncheon at the Cessna Textron Center at Sun n Fun Aerospace Expo.  Thank you, volunteers!

2023 Tax Preparation Sites

Bartow Church Service Center

Tax Site: First Presbyterian Church

355 S. Florida Avenue

Bartow, FL  33830

Tuesdays:  9:00 - 2:00

Fridays:  9:00 - 2:00

Feb 3 - Apr 14, 2023

 

By appointment only

(863) 533-5822

Florida Children’s Museum

600 Bonnet Springs Blvd

Lakeland, FL  33815

10:00 - 5:00

Monday, Jan 30

Monday, Feb 27

Monday, Mar 27, 2023

Walk in site

(863) 687-3869

CJB United Way Children's Resource Center

650 Bonnet Springs Blvd

Lakeland, FL  33815

Thursdays:  12:30 - 4:30

Jan 26 - Apr 6, 2023

Walk in site

(863) 786-1306, x 294

Fort Meade Library
75 E. Broadway Street
Fort Meade, FL  33841

Mondays: 10:00 - 3:00

Jan 23 - Mar 13, 2023

Walk in site

(863) 425-1523

Haines City Library

111 N. 6th Street

Haines City, FL  33844

Fridays:  10:00 - 3:00

Jan 27 - Apr 7, 2023

Walk in site

(863) 425-1523

Hands of Hope America

Four Corners Community Center - Suite 3
16605 Sunrise Lakes Blvd
Clermont, FL  34714

Wednesdays:  10:00 - 3:00

Feb 1 - Apr 12, 2023

Walk in site

(352) 432-3824

Heart for Winter Haven
1951 8th Street NW
Winter Haven, FL  33881

Fridays:  1:00 - 4:00

Jan 27 - Apr 14, 2023

By appointment only

(863) 291-6270

Larry Jackson Library

1700 North Florida Avenue

Lakeland, FL  33805

Mondays:  3:00 - 6:30

Jan 23 - Apr 3, 2023

Walk in site

(863) 425-1523

Mulberry Community Service Center
211 NW First Avenue

Mulberry, FL  33860

Wednesday, Apr 5

Monday, Apr 10

Wednesday, Apr 12

Friday, April 14

Walk in site - 10:00 - 3:00

(863) 425-1523

Women's Resource Center

165 Avenue A NW
Winter Haven, FL  33884

Wednesdays

Jan 25 - Apr 12, 2023

By appointment only

(863) 875-8379

Self Assisted/Self-Preparation Site

One More Child

Assisted Self-Preparation Site

1015 Sikes Boulevard

Lakeland, FL  33802

Tuesday:  9:00 - 12:00

Thursday:  1:00 - 4:00

Jan 24 - Apr 13, 2023

By appointment only

(863) 687-8811 x 2243

Self Assisted/Self-Preparation Site

Salvation Army

Assisted Self-Preparation Site

2620 Kathleen Road

Lakeland, FL  33810

Monday - Friday:  9:00 - 4:00

Jan 23 - Apr 18, 2023

By appointment only

(863) 853-2214

Saturday Tax-a-Thons

Crystal Lake Elementary

700 Galvin Dr

Lakeland, FL 33801

Saturday, Feb 25, 2023

10:00 - 3:00

Walk in site

(863) 425-1523

 

Saturday Tax-a-Thons

Hardee Help Center

713 E Bay Street
Wauchula, FL

Saturday, Feb 11, 2023

Saturday, Mar 4, 2023

10:00 - 3:00

Walk in site

(863) 425-1523

Coming Soon

Coming Soon

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